Malsasa Swiftpaw

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Malsasa Swiftclaw

Malsasa Swiftclaw is a curious, adventuresome kettek. He has long fur, mostly gray with a few stripes of black and white. He always appears in public wearing bright, ornate outfits woven from fine fabrics like silk or gossamer. Spun gold or silver thread is not uncommon in such outfits, and brightly-colored felt hats with feathers are also commonly seen on Malsasa.

Malsasa is not just a flamboyant merchant, however. He is cursed with some kind of dark magic beyond his comprehension.

Malsasa is chatty and memorable, as any traveling merchant benefits from such qualities, and he has at least a couple connections in most major cities in Gathandia.

Jack

In one of his acquisitions, Malsasa neglected to take enough precautions in the handling of his new magic items. While taking inventory, he became exposed to the influence of a powerful eldritch force. Ever since, this entity has been siphoning Malsasa’s Essence.

Malsasa has not been able to determine anything of this entity’s true nature, but it takes the form of a black cat that he has named Jack. Malsasa and Jack can speak telepathically, and although Malsasa lives in peace with Jack, he is always on the lookout for some method of unbinding himself from the entity.

Backstory

As a kitten, Malsasa lived with his parents and a small group of other kettek within a larger, multilineage nomadic tribe known as the Drifting Merchants Caravan.

The Drifting Merchants pride themselves on their skill as crafters and traders. They travel all across the continent of Gathandia to sell their wares and see wondrous sights. While they are never unfriendly to strangers, they focus on supporting and protecting their own above anything else.

Malsasa quickly made a name for himself as a skilled merchant. Filled with wanderlust and a desire to trade exotic magic items, Malsasa took his leave of the Drifting Merchants to explore the world on his own, intending one day to return to his family.

To detail all of Malsasa’s accomplishments over the years past this point would be difficult, in part because they are plentiful and wondrous, but also because he has embellished, overstated, and downright fabricated so many of them that the line between what is real and what is not has become incredibly blurry.

Malsasa’s Alchemy Egg

They might also convince him to sell it to them eventually, but Malsasa will only consider this if the hero requesting to purchase the egg has at least 15 Goodwill in the mercantile occupation.

Stats for Malsasa’s Alchemy Egg are in Appendix B.

Malsasa in Combat

Malsasa tries to avoid combat, preferring to strike bargains or to retreat when things get too hairy. When Malsasa does have to fight, however, he usually has at least 45 Essence Points’ worth of miscellaneous magic items on him that might help him in combat. Any single item that he has should not have more than 25 Essence Points.

His stats below include Essence 15 mage robes that offer an additional +1 to each of his defenses; Essence 10 +1 rapier; and an Essence 20 Bow of Storms. Feel free to redistribute his items as you see fit.

Hyleth Othen Hyleth Othen is an elderly halfling, and an influential member of Bridgemoor’s Meritocrats. He wears a dark cloak made of black and blue feathers, and has a long, curly silver beard. He prefers to keep the cowl of his cloak up, casting his face in shadow.

It seems that his intellect has only been sharpened in his old age. Hyleth believes that decisive action is more important than ongoing deliberation, and when he finds disputes between people he urges them to resolve their dispute as quickly as possible. The more quickly a resolution is reached, Hyleth says, the more the parties will be able to commit their energies to other constructive endeavors.

Hyleth’s Influence Hyleth has been a member of the Meritocrats for nearly sixty years, since his late teens. As such, he has connections with everyone of any means in Bridgemoor and has met both Queen Astaria and Godking Neferu, along with numerous lesser politicians in both Kendaria and Nalathesh. Hyleth has also met many political figures from the nations beyond Bridgemoor’s immediate neighbors.

Hyleth is well-respected and understood to be a central cog in the political machine that is Bridgemoor. As he is so connected, he is fast to make acquaintances but slow to make new friendships. Earning his trust will allow the heroes significant leverage in any diplomatic arrangement they seek to make with notable NPCs in any nation in this campaign. Even though Hyleth’s blunt, sometimes hasty method of conducting diplomacy is not always appreciated by other national leaders, he is nonetheless respected for his central role in the Meritocracy of Bridgemoor.

Hyleth’s Goals Hyleth recognizes that he is nearing the end of his career in politics. In his late seventies, he is still of keen mind, but his body is rapidly degenerating. Experienced apothecaries have dulled the worst of his aches and pains, but Hyleth does not believe in trying to artificially extend his life through the use of magic. He accepts that he will not be around for much longer, and wants to ensure the success of a few key goals before he passes.

Bridgemoor’s Autonomy. Hyleth wants to ensure that Bridgemoor remains an independent and free city-state. Yes, Bridgemoor has been an independent entity for some five hundred years, but Hyleth worries about both Queen Astaria and Godking Neferu, especially the latter. This has led him to put his faith in Bridge Commander Ser Kellion Blacksky, as the young human has demonstrated his capacity as a strong military leader. Insightful as he is, Hyleth’s desire to see a strong Bridgemoor has caused him to be blind to Kellion’s darker side.

The Othen Legacy. Hyleth has three children, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren in Bridgemoor. His wife passed away three years ago, and Hyleth finds great fulfillment in seeing his progeny make successful careers in the city. Some of his heirs have joined the Bridge Knights, many have started successful mercantile ventures, and one is serving as an advisor to the Meritocrat named Hengory. Although they each face various daily challenges in their respective careers, they seem to be happy and well-off, all things considered. This gives Hyleth great joy, and reinforces his desire to be sure that Bridgemoor remains an autonomous state in perpetuity.

Stability in the Region. It goes without saying that a stable region is good for Bridgemoor and for the Othen legacy. Hyleth’s desire to see Kendaria and Nalathesh resolve their tensions quickly plays into his lifelong reputation of looking for direct, fast resolutions to conflict. However, as Hyleth contemplates the world he will leave behind, he recognizes that taking a longer time to deliberate and find compromises in diplomatic disputes might contribute to a longer and lasting peace. While he still tends towards decisive action, his drive to do so is dramatically tempered by this understanding.